The bookmakers install surveillance cameras outside their gambling haunts to be able to outsmart the cops, if they ever come raiding, the police said.

Investigating into the activities of bookies in the city after busting a betting racket on December 7, police have found the gamblers rely on CCTV cameras to evade arrest.

The bookmakers install surveillance cameras outside their gambling haunts to be able to outsmart the cops, if they ever come raiding, the police said.

Commissioner of police RN Dhoke has pressed in two senior officers — additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP City 1) Ratan Singh Brar and ADCP City 3 Surinder Lamba to investigate into the working of such groups and bust betting rackets.

During investigation, they also found T20 series’ were bookies’ favourite for betting. With a one-day series on between India and Sri Lanka, and a T20 series between the two countries on the cards, police expect booking to be active around town.

Besides, the Bangladesh Premier League is underway, and Australia’s Big-Bash league, where several international cricketers will play, is coming up this month.

Police sources said they had information that bookies preferred to work from houses in the Old City areas, such as Dhoka Mohalla, Iqbal Gunj Chowk and Kashmir Nagar. Densely populated, these areas help gamblers notice police movement easily, and the closely placed buildings help them escape easily over the roofs.

On December 5, the Sadar police had unearthed a betting racket while investigating into a complaint of kidnapping by an Abdullapur Basti resident, who is also a bookie.

The probe had led the police to arrest four bookies — Gagandeep Singh alias Raju Shehanshah of Phase 2 Dugri, and his accomplices, Sunil Kumar of Preet Nagar of Shimlapuri; Lalit Kumar of Gold Avenue of Dugri; and Rajinder Singh alias Laddu of GK Vihar. The police had later also booked the kidnapping victim, Rakesh Kumar.

During questioning, the gang members had revealed that Gagandeep had been financing gangster Goru Bachha, who used to work for him.